There was once a bridge which spanned a large river. During most of theday the bridge sat with its length running up and down the riverparalleled with the banks, allowing ships to pass thru freely on bothsides of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would comealong and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river,allowing a train to cross it.
A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where heoperated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as thetrain crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the lasttrain of the day to come, he looked off into the distance thru thedimming twilight and caught sight of the trainlights. He stepped to thecontrol and waited until the train was within a prescribed distancewhen he was to turn the bridge. He turned the bridge into position,but, to his horror, he found the locking control did not work. If thebridge was not securely in position it would wobble back and forth atthe ends when the train came onto it, causing the train to jump thetrack and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger trainwith many people aboard. He left the bridge turned across the river,and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river wherethere was a lever switch he could hold to operate the lock manually. Hewould have to hold the lever back firmly as the train crossed. He couldhear the rumble of the train now, and he took hold of the lever andleaned backward to apply his weight to it, locking the bridge. He keptapplying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives dependedon this man‘s strength.
Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack,he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. "Daddy, where are you?"His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. Hisfirst impulse was to cry out to the child, "Run! Run!" But the trainwas too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge intime. The man almost left his lever to run and snatch up his son andcarry him to safety. But he realized that he could not get back to thelever. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. Hetook a moment to make his decision.
The train sped safely and swiftly on its way, and no one aboard waseven aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river bythe onrushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of thesobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after thetrain had passed. They did not see him walking home more slowly than hehad ever walked: to tell his wife how their son had brutally died.
Now if you comprehend the emotions which went this man‘s heart, you canbegin to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when Hesacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Canthere be any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skiesto darken when His Son died? How does He feel when we speed along thrulife without giving a thought to what was done for us thru Jesus Christ?
Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as theHouse of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this placeand decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairsto the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with hisears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his greatsurprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs withtheir tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, andwas answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As heleft the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. Iwill come back and visit it often." In this same village, anotherlittle dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided tovisit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low ashe looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogsstaring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself,"That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."
All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?
As Told by Chris P. Cash
推荐理由：
这篇故事里，一个父亲，不仅原谅了杀害儿子的凶手，而且希望能收凶手为养子，让他做自己的继承人。
再不可思议的事情，也有它的理由。
如果连这都可以原谅，那么这世间再没有任何事让你记恨。
让更多人来感受一颗博大宽容的心吧。
A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man on death row had killed:
You are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letterto you, but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider itsrequest seriously. As the Father of the man whom you took part inmurdering, I have something very important to say to you.
I forgive you. With all my heart, I forgive you. I realize it may behard for you to believe, but I really do. At your trial, when youconfessed to your part in the events that cost my Son his life andasked for my forgiveness, I immediately granted you that forgiving lovefrom my heart. I can only hope you believe me and will accept myforgiveness.
But this is not all I have to say to you. I want to make you an offer-- I want you to become my adopted child. You see, my Son who died wasmy only child, and I now want to share my life with you and leave myriches to you. This may not make sense to you or anyone else, but Ibelieve you are worth the offer. I have arranged matters so that if youwill receive my offer of forgiveness, not only will you be pardoned foryour crime, but you also will be set free from your imprisonment, andyour sentence of death will be dismissed. At that point, you willbecome my adopted child and heir to all my riches.
I realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you -- you might betempted to reject my offer completely -- but I make it to you withoutreservation.
Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one whocost my Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeableforgiveness in my heart for you.
Finally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may dosomething to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to mywealth. Nothing could be further from the truth. If I can forgive youfor your part in my Son‘s death, I can forgive you for anything. I knowyou never will be perfect, but you do not have to be perfect to receivemy offer. Besides, I believe that once you have accepted my offer andbegin to experience the riches that will come to you from me, that yourprimary (though not always) response will be gratitude and loyalty.
Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me your Father.
Sincerely,
The Father of Jesus
第五篇：He Never Missed a Game本文由 cwjjzhou 在 2007-3-12 08:22 发表于: 倍可亲.美国 ( backchina.com ) BobRichards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about askinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But beinghalf the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all thegames, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had avery special relationship. Even though the son was always On the bench,his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered highschool. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it veryclear that he did not have to play football if he didn‘t want to.
But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there He wasdetermined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he‘d get toplay when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed apractice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years. Hisfaithful father was always in the stands, always with words ofencouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decidedto try out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure hecould never make the cut, but he did.
The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he alwaysputs his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time,provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badlyneeded.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that herushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father sharedhis excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his fouryears at college, but he never got to play in a game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted ontothe practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach methim with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he becamedeathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My fatherdied this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coachput his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of theweek off, son. And don‘t even plan to come back to the game onSaturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the thirdquarter,when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietlyslipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As heran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to seetheir faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I‘vejust got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not tohear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this closeplayoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorryfor the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said."You can go in."Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands couldnot believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never playedbefore was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stophim. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His teambegan to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds ofthe game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for thewinning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him ontotheir shoulders. Such cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered andleft the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sittingquietly in the corner all alone The coach came to him and said, " Kid,I can‘t believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? Howdid you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, youknew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The youngman swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, buttoday was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show himI could do it!"
Like the athlete‘s father, God is always there cheering for us. He‘salways reminding us to go on. He‘s even offering us His hand for Heknows what is best, and is willing to give us what we need and notsimply what we want. GOD has never missed a single game. What a joy toknow that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest. Live for HIM forHe‘s watching us in the game of life!
第六篇：The Most Beautiful Flower本文由 cwjjzhou 在 2007-3-12 08:23 发表于: 倍可亲.美国 ( backchina.com ) 推荐理由：
生活中不是缺少美，而是缺少发现美的眼睛；生活中不是缺少快乐，而是缺少感受快乐的心。
如果双目失明，我们是不是一定不快乐？如果健健康康，我们是不是一定快乐？
它再一次告诉我们，快乐在心。
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long,straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life withgood reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren‘t enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breathapproached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with hishead tilted down And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals allworn - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take hisdead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shiftedaway.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed the flowerto his nose and declared with surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it‘sbeautiful, too. That‘s why I picked it; here, it‘s for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange,yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So Ireached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it mid-airwithout reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very firsttime, that weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun. As I thanked him forpicking the very best one. "You‘re welcome," he smiled, and then ranoff to play, Unaware of the impact he‘d had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying womanbeneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight?Perhaps from his heart, he‘d been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see, the problem wasnot with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times Imyself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty, and appreciate everysecond that‘s mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in thefragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as that young boy, anotherweed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.
Author unknown
第七篇：Building本文由 cwjjzhou 在 2007-3-12 08:23 发表于: 倍可亲.美国 ( backchina.com ) 推荐理由：
总有一天，算计别人的时候，会算到自己的头上。
故事有些小小的幽默，并且意味深长。
A great and wise man once called one of his workmen to him saying, "Gointo the far country and build for me a house. The decisions ofplanning and of actual construction will be yours, but remember, Ishall come to accept your work for a very special friend of mine."
And so the workman departed with a light heart for his field of labor.Material of all kinds was plentiful here, but the workman had a mind ofhis own. "Surely," he thought, "I know my business. I can use a bit ofinferior materials here and cheat on my workmanship a little there, andstill make the finished work look good. Only I will know that what Ihave built has weaknesses."
And so, at last the work was completed and the workman reported back tothe great and wise man. "Very good," he said. "Now remember that Iwanted you to use only the finest materials and craftsmanship in thishouse because I wanted to make present of it——My friend, you are theone I had you build it for. It is all yours."
How much like man. He comes to earth a stranger. He has his freeagency. He may build as he likes. But on the morning of hisresurrection he will receive what he has built for an eternal home andhabitation.
第八篇：Attitude is Everything本文由 cwjjzhou 在 2007-3-12 08:24 发表于: 倍可亲.美国 ( backchina.com ) 推荐理由：
永远积极面对人生，真的那么容易吗?每一天,你都可以选择开心或是不开心；但是有一天，你必须去选择，是生，还是死，你发现只要你选择生存，你就一定可以。态度就是一切。
禁不住想为主人公JERRY喝彩。
这是一篇很容易懂的文章，越到后面一切越出人意料。极力推荐。
Attitude is Everything
By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a goodmood and always had something positive to say. When someone would askhim how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would betwins!"
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followedhim around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waitersfollowed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator.If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling theemployee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry andasked him, "I don‘t get it! You can‘t be a positive person all of thetime. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and sayto myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in agood mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.‘ I choose to be in agood mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victimor I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every timesomeone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept theircomplaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose thepositive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it‘s not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut awayall the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react tosituations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose tobe in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It‘s your choice howyou live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurantindustry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thoughtabout him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are neversupposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open onemorning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. Whiletrying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slippedoff the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerrywas found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry wasreleased from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in hisbody.
I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him howhe was, he replied, "If I were any better, I‘d be twins. Wanna see myscars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through hismind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through mymind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied."Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: Icould choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren‘t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerrycontinued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was goingto be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I sawthe expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got reallyscared. In their eyes, I read, ‘He‘s a dead man. " I knew I needed totake action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," saidJerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,‘ I replied. Thedoctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.. I tooka deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!‘ Over their laughter, I told them,‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of hisamazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choiceto live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
第九篇：The Fence本文由 cwjjzhou 在 2007-3-12 08:25 发表于: 倍可亲.美国 ( backchina.com ) 推荐理由：
从这篇文章里面，我至少感受到两点：第一，人的潜力是无穷的，很多时候你认为自己做不到的事情，其实可以。就像一些看似根深蒂固的习惯，其实可以改变。第二，正如文中所说，言语的伤害有时候比身体的伤害更严重，这个道理谁都懂，但是文中所用的比喻真的太绝妙。
The Fence
There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag ofnails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nailin the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into thefence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier tohold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally theday came when the boy didn‘t lose his temper at all. He told his fatherabout it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nailfor each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed andthe young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nailswere gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to thefence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes inthe fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things inanger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in aman and draw it out. It won‘t matter how many times you say I‘m sorry,the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile andencourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word ofpraise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.
第十篇：The Eyes of Love本文由 cwjjzhou 在 2007-3-12 08:26 发表于: 倍可亲.美国 ( backchina.com ) 推荐理由:
在每一个爱你的人眼里，你都是最美丽的，连缺点都是美丽的。
所以我们每个人都可以自信满满，有理由有资本去自信，只要拥有了爱。
A grandmother and a little girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo.
The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.
"You‘ve got so many freckles, there‘s no place to paint!" a boy in the line cried.
Embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head. Her grandmother knelt down next to her. "I love your freckles," she said.
"Not me," the girl replied.
"Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles" she said,tracing her finger across the child‘s cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!"
The girl looked up. "Really?" "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why, just name me one thing that‘s prettier than freckles."
The little girl peered into the old woman‘s smiling face. "Wrinkles," she answered softly.
Contributed by Father Pat
